Apparatus for making fiber optic devices

ABSTRACT

Apparatus having a headstock and tailstock between which a shortened fiber optic image-inverter is formed by twisting and axially compressing a heated bundle of light-conducting fibers held by endpieces respectively supported in said headstock and tailstock; said endpieces being axially rotatable, one relative to the other, for twisting said bundle and moveable, one axially toward the other, for compression of said bundle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

Fiber optic image-transmitting devices with particular reference toapparatus for making axially compressed fiber optic image-invertershaving image-receiving and image-emitting opposite end faces, oneinverted relative to the other by a 180° axial twist in the bundlebetween said opposite ends thereof.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Fiber optical image inverters formed by twisting image-transmittingbundles of optical fibers have, heretofore, suffered substantial lossesin effective numerical aperture and transmission. This is due tostretching and consequent constriction or tapering of individual fiberelements by amounts which increase from the centermost fibers of thebundle. This reduction in effective numerical aperture and transmissioncauses vingnetting of images emitted by the twisted bundle.

Efforts to decrease the length of fiber optic image inverters inrelation to their diameters increase the relative stretching and opticalperformance losses so that when space limitations on the use of fiberoptic image inverters places a premium on minimum length, a sacrifice inoptical performance has been the rule.

According to the present invention, however, optical performance isoptimized in fiber optic image inverters of notably shortened over-alllengths.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present concept in accomplishing the shortening of fiber opticalimage inverters without appreciable, if any, sacrifice of opticalperformance is accomplished by axially compressing the bundle of opticalfibers which make up the inverter.

With the bundle of fibers heated to a suitable softening temperature fortwisting, it is twisted 180° with axial compression effected before,during or following the twisting operation. A desirable practice is toaccomplish both twisting and compression simultaneously. In any case,heating of the bundle is carefully controlled to prevent fiberdistortion or displacement of fibers adjacent opposite image receivingand emitting ends of the bundle. For optimum definition of imagestransmitted by fiber bundles, corresponding opposite ends of fibers ofrespective bundles must be substantially identically geometricallypatterned even though all inverted at one end of the bundle.

For a given final length and working diameter, the aforesaid axialcompression allows the use of a greater than usual initial length offiber bundle (i.e. before twisting) so that relative stretching andconstriction taking place during twisting is less than would occur inprior art uncompressed bundles having to meet identical requirements ofoverall finished axial length. Thus, according to this invention, thereis accomplished minimal necking-down, tapering or constriction ofindividual fiber elements with a corresponding minimal loss of workingnumerical aperture and vingnetting of images conveyed by the resultingimage inverter.

The present invention will be more fully understood by reference to thefollowing detailed description when taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings.

IN THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective illustration of an image-conducting bundle ofoptical fibers which is representative of a type utilized to form, bytwisting and compression, an image inverter according to principles ofthe present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective illustration of a type of image inverter formedaccording to this invention;

FIG. 3 is a partially cross-sectioned diagrammatic illustration ofapparatus used in making the image inverter exemplified by FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a partially cross-sectioned elevational view of a modificationof the apparatus shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary diagrammatic illustration of another form ofapparatus and technique for forming the image inverter; and

FIGS. 6 and 7 are still further modifications of apparatus bothapplicable to the FIG. 3 embodiment thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring more particularly to FIG. 1, there is depicted a bundle 10 ofoptical fibers 12 having their corresponding opposite ends arranged inidentical geometrical patterns as image-receiving and emitting faces 14and 16 respectively. As such, bundle 10 is adapted to receive an opticalimage (e.g. arrow 18) at its receiving end 14 and, by conduction ofimage 18 through the fibers 12, emit same at end 16 of the bundle.Fibers 12 in bundle 10 are preferably all tightly fused together, eachbeing of the monofilament type (having a single light-conducting core)or, alternatively, of the multifiber type (each comprising a pluralityof light-conducting cores separated by individual claddings and allfused together). The fibers 12 are typically preferably formed of glassof high refractive index and each clad with a relatively thin integraljacket of glass having a low refractive index. In addition to forming alight-reflecting interface along each fiber, the latter also functionsas a connecting medium by means of which the fibers are fused to oneanother. They may, if desired, have second claddings of low meltingtemperature and/or light absorbing glass or alternatively, be providedwith interstitial stray light absorbing fibers or the like.

Those interested in details of construction, function and use of fiberssuch as the aforementioned may refer to U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,992,516;3,037,241; 3,060,789; 3,253,896; 3,253,500; and 3,247,756 forexemplification.

Utilizing the greater length of bundle 10 (FIG. 1) to form the muchshorter image inverter 10' (FIG. 2) by heat softening its intermediatesection, twisting 180° and compressing the whole bundle in the directionof its axis, the advantage of minimal fiber stretching and consequentconstriction with corresponding numerical aperture reduction isrealized. Image inverter 10' thus formed will, upon receiving the imageof arrow 18 upon its face 14', emit the same image 18, but inverted atface 16'. In view of the aforementioned minimal fiber stretching,vingnetting of the emitted image 18 (FIG. 2) is minimized.

While the use of bundle 10 (FIG. 1) having flat opposite end faces 14and 16, by reason of its initial relatively great length, will produceminimal outer fiber stretching or attenuation, it is also contemplatedthat opposite end faces 14" and 16" of a similar bundle 10" (FIG. 5) maybe ground or otherwise formed to a convex shape as shown. Thus, beforeor during or after 180° twisting of the bundle 10" it may be pressedaxially for shortening. The attenuation caused by the twisting over thelonger length and by the compressing results in less total constrictionof the fiber than does the attenuation which occurs if the inverter istwisted over the shorter length without any compression.

Referring now more particularly to apparatus for accomplishing thetwisting and axial compression of a bundle of optical fibers 10 or 10',the invention contemplates the utilization of lathe-type apparatus 22(FIG. 3). Fiber bundle holders in the form of endpieces 24 and 26 arerespectively supported in the headstock 28 and tailstock 30 of apparatus22. Endpiece 26 is fixed against rotational movement in tailstock 30 butis selectively adjustable longitudinally toward headstock 28 byoperation of crank 32. Endpiece 24, in turn, is supported by chuck 34 onspindle 36 which is journaled in headstock 28.

Fiber bundle 10 having its axis coincident with the common axis ofspindle 36, chuck 34 and endpiece 24 is fixedly secured by a ceramiccement or its equivalent 38 at each of its opposite ends respectively toendpieces 24 and 26.

Surrounding fiber bundle 10 is furnace 40 having suitable heating means(e.g. electrical heating coils 42) therein. Thus, the periphery of fiberbundle 10 is heated by elements 42 to a point where the major portion ofthe length of the bundle between endpieces 24 and 26 becomes softenedfor axial twisting. Endpieces 24 and 26, acting as heat-sinks, however,absorb and dissipate substantial amounts of heat flow opposite ends ofbundle 10 keeping these ends relatively cool and not susceptable todistortion.

Upon bringing fiber bundle 10 to a predetermined suitable temperaturefor twisting, a weight 44 on cord 46 which is suspended from pulley 48is permitted to drop under the force of gravity over a distance Xagainst a stop 50. Either the position of stop 50 or the initialstarting point of weight 44 above stop 50 is preset to render distance Xsufficient only to produce one accurate 180° axial twist of one end ofbundle 10 relative to its opposite end.

Before, during or following the aforesaid twisting of bundle 10,endpiece 26 is moved in the direction of arrow 52 by operation of crank32 thereby effecting axial compression of bundle 10, the amount of whichis determined by the extent of such movement of endpiece 26 towardendpiece 24.

For optical fibers 12 having core parts formed of optical flint glasswith claddings of optical crown glass, the heating of peripheralportions of a bundle thereof such as bundle 10 to a temperature ofapproximately 1250° Fahrenhit has been determined to producesatisfactory results in conditioning the bundle for the aforesaidtwisting and compression operation. A log viscosity of 8 or higher forcore and cladding glasses will produce the best results in opticalblemish-free quality. Slow cooling and removal of the twisted andcompressed bundle 10 from apparatus 22 completes the shortened imageinverter 10' depicted in FIG. 2. Typically, an inverter 10' may comprisean approximately 3/4 inch diameter bundle of fibers initiallyapproximately 1 inch long, axially twisted 180° and shortened toapproximately 3/4 inch in length.

Modification of the apparatus of FIG. 3 may include alteration offurnace 40 to the general arrangement and configuration of furnace 54which is shown diagrammatically in FIG. 4. There, optical fiber bundle10 is supported by endpiece 24' and 26' in essentially the same manneras already described with relation to the corresponding pieces 24 and 26of FIG. 3. Furnace 54, however, comprises a cylinder of high heatresistant material (e.g. alumina) which is surrounded by three sections56, 58 and 60 of high electrical resistance heating wire. Positioned infurnace 54 adjacent each of the sections of wire, are thermocouples 62,65 and 66 respectively. The centermost coil 58 is controlled bythermocouple 64 and is utilized to heat the intermediate portion offiber bundle 10 to a temperature suitable for twisting and compressionas described hereinabove. Sections 56 and 60 of heating wire arerespectively controlled by the thermocouples 62 and 66. These areregulated to control temperatures of opposite ends of fiber bundle 10.These ends are maintained at temperatures below softening so as to avoiddistortion or displacement of portions of fibers 12 adjacent such endswhile, at the same time, permitting a heating of a maximum amount of theintermediate portions of fibers 12 to softening temperature for thetwisting of bundle 10.

Further modifications of endpieces for supporting fiber bundles duringtwisting and axial compression are shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. Theseendpieces are formed of a high temperature-resistant steel, this,preferably, also being the case with respect to other endpiecesdescribed hereinabove. Endpiece 68, however, is provided with acentrally disposed deep internal cavity 70, the major portion of whichis filled with a fiberous heat-insulating material. Thus, with fiberbundle 10 cemented in the endpiece and abutting the insulation 72 asillustrated, the aforementioned sinking of heat at opposite ends of thefiber bundle is effected essentially only at outer peripheral portionsof the bundle. It should be understood that an endpiece substantiallyidentical to endpiece 68 would ordinarily be applied to the opposite endof fiber bundle 10 which is not shown in FIG. 6. Since thermalconduction is known to be greater along the length of fibers in bundlessuch as bundle 10 than in transverse directions thereof, insulation 72functions to reduce radial thermal gradients. Also provided in endpiece68 are recesses 74 where cement 76 is applied to secure fiber bundle 10in place.

Notches 78 may be cut into opposite ends of bundle 10 permitting cement76 to enter thereinto and function, in each case, as a key to preventrotational slippage of the bundle during its twisting.

In a manner analogous to the controlled heating of endpieces 24' and 26'(FIG. 4) there is shown in FIG. 7 a still further endpiece modification.This, as diagrammatically illustrated in FIG. 7, includes thesubstitution for heating coils 56 or 60 of a heating element 80 extendedcoaxially into endpiece 82. Heating element 80 is conical and is fittedinto a correspondingly shaped tapered opening 84. Thus, a tightfittingrelationship between corresponding sufaces of heating element 80 andendpiece 82 can be readily accomplished so as to optimize the conductionof heat from element 80 into endpiece 82 proper.

We claim:
 1. Apparatus for making shortened fiber optic image inverterscomprising:a furnace having thermostatically controlled heating meansfor heating the intermediate section and opposite ends respectively of abundle of optical fibers to controlled different temperatures suitablefor twisting said bundle, said opposite ends of said bundle being heatedto lower temperatures than said intermediate section; a pair of highheat-resistant endpieces attachable to said opposite ends of said bundleof fibers, said endpieces being adapted to extend into said furnace withsaid bundle of fibers held thereby; a headstock for supporting oneendpiece and a tailstock for supporting the other endpiece; means forrotating one of said endpieces relative to the other for twisting saidbundle of fibers held thereby when said bundle is heated in saidfurnace; and means for moving one endpiece toward the other forcompressing said heated bundle of fibers to effect axial shorteningthereof.
 2. Apparatus according to claim 1 further including heatingmeans within said endpieces for accomplishing said lower temperatureheating of said opposite ends of said bundle of fibers.
 3. Apparatusaccording to claim 1 wherein said means for rotating one of saidendpieces relative to another includes means for effecting a full 180°relative rotation between said endpieces and full 180° relative rotationbetween said endpieces and means for preventing greater than said 180°relative rotation.
 4. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said meansfor effecting said 180° rotation includes a pulley on said headstockdriven by a weight and said means for preventing greater than 180°rotation includes a stop limiting the extent of movement of said weight.5. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said endpieces have hollowinteriors each filled with heat including material adjacent to whichcorresponding opposite ends of said bundle of fibers are positioned whensaid endpieces are attached to said bundle.
 6. Apparatus according toclaim 1 wherein said furnace is generally cylindrical in configurationand said thermostatically controlled heating means comprises threeindividually thermostatically controlled spaced electrical heating coilssurrounding said furnace, the centermost of said coils being disposedapproximately centrally between said fiber bundle supporting endpieces.